A sliding-type mobile communication terminal having a first housing and a
second housing adapted to allow the first housing to be opened or closed
by means of a sliding movement on the first housing in a longitudinal
direction of the first housing. The terminal includes a spring module
adapted to provide a sliding force, along the longitudinal direction of
the first housing, for allowing closing of the second housing within a
predetermined range of distance, and for providing the sliding force in
an opposite direction for allowing opening of the second housing beyond
the predetermined range of distance. The spring module includes link bars
rotatably coupled in one end onto the first housing, coil springs
supported by one end of the link bar and coupled to enclose the link bar,
and a slider slidably coupled to the link bar to be acted upon by an
elastic force from the coil spring. The terminal uses the elasticity in
coil springs to implement a semi-automatic sliding opening/closure of the
second housing.